LVG: "Fellaini my secret weapon"

So a few things have worried me about van Gaal's latest admission that Marouane Fellaini is United's secret weapon this season.

Aside from suggesting that Fellaini, i.e. the scapegoat of last season and representation of Moyes' failed tenure as United manager, is the difference between United succeeding and failing this season; the fact he is bragging about successfully instilling the full effect of said "secret weapon" against Preston is a little embarrassing and raises the question: "would it not have made sense to play this way from the start and thus avoid the potential of being knocked out of the FA Cup by a League One side"?

By replacing the doomed Falcao with Young and playing Fellaini up-front alongside Rooney United did indeed experience our most effective period of the game, scoring all three of our goals and, in the end, winning the game comfortably. But the change came only after a poor half of football and Preston going 1-0 at the start of the second half.

He says he does not know United's best side yet while also admitting that United do not perform well for an entire game, only playing well in small periods...yet last night he proudly unveiled the reason United played a solid second half that saw them go on and win the game.



Now, I have no problem with van Gaal figuring out what makes the side tick, on the contrary it's actually a very positive step, however why he doesn't deploy this tactic from the start is baffling. It was clear for everyone to see that United were a different side when Young came on and we switched to 4-4-2, so if starting with Fellaini in attack with Rooney (who also played well up-front) is a step in the right direction - even if the appearance of the old school, unfashionable formation might suggest otherwise - then this is surely what needs to happen?